Muting device for tuning pianos



M. R. YOUNGMAN.

MUTING DEVICE FOR TUNING PIANOS.

APPLICATION mzopzc. 23, 192:.

1,428,738. Patented Sept. 12,1922.

A TT0RNEY Patented Sept. 12, 1922.

MAXIMILLIAN R. YOUNG-MAN, OF SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA.

MUTING DEVICE TUNING PIANOS.

Application filed December 23, 1921. Serial No. 524,525.

To all whom it may concern Be it. known that I, MAXIMILLIAN R. YoUNeMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Diego, in the county of San Diego and State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Muting Device for Tuning Pianos, of which the following is a specification. k a

My invention relates to muting devices for tuning string musical instruments particularly pianos and the principal objects of my invention are: first, to providea muting device of this class which will greatly facilitate the tuning of string musical instruments in which. the time saving element is the greatest factor; second, to provide a muting device of this class in which a large number of strings may be muted at one time and tuned and it is not necessary to remove the mute from one string or strings and insert the same at the string to be plucked or the note to be struck; third, to provide a muting device of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, eflicient, durable, one that is or can be made applicable to any type of string instrument and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings andto the charactersof reference thereon which form a part of this application in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of the strings of the treble clef of a piano showing the muting device in position for tuning; Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken through 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view taken at 3--3 of Fig. 1; 4: is an enlarged fragmentary top view of a small section of the muting device for tuning instruments in which the strings are in close proximity to each other,

such as the treble clef, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a small section of the muting device for instruments with strings separated by a large space,such as the bass clef. y

Like characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

' The mute portions 1 and mute connecting strip portions 2 constitute the principal portions of my muting device.

The mute portions 1 are preferably made of a resilient elastic material such as soft rubber so that it can easily be inserted between the strings of an instrument and be wedged and held in place by the strings, and are also preferably made of a resilient elastic material so that they will be applicable to strings variably spaced. The mute portion 1 is preferably made or molded with a hole l as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings,

to give it still more flexibility and adaptability to the variably spaced strings. The mute portions 1 are preferably mounted or connected by the flexible connecting strip portions 2 which are also preferably made of rubber, and molded in one piece with the mute portions 1. The space 2 separating the mutes varies somewhat for the various instruments or various parts of an instrument. The space 2 of the muting device used for tuning the bass clef of a piano as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings is considerably greater than the space 2 of the muting device used for tuning the treble clef of the said instrument as shown in Fig. 4; of the drawings. In view of the fact that the connecting strip portions 2 are very flexible, a muting device of the class described with the greater spaces 2 is applicable for tuning more instruments or instruments with stringsvariously spaced than a muting device with smaller spaces 2 between the mute portions 1.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arr ngement of portions I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims. a 7

Havingthus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by l. A muting device for tuning musical stringed instruments, including an elastic strip provided with a plurality of elastic inen'ibers in spaced relation extending from and along one side thereof.

5. A muting device for tuning musical stringed instruments, including a strip and a plurality of hollow elastic members extending from and along one side thereof in spaced relation to each other.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, this 15th day 01'? eceinber 1921.

lllriXH IILLIAN YOUNGMAN. 

